Arabian Gold primed for Tramway Stakes first up

Former top class three year old filly Arabian Gold is primed for a bold first up showing for her new stable in the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Arabian Gold will be having her first start for Gai Waterhouse in the Tramway Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse will be saddling up Arabian Gold for the first time and has given the grey mare two Randwick barrier trials in preparation for her debut under the Tulloch Lodge banner.

Arabian Gold ran fourth to stablemate Cosmic Endeavour over 1250m on August 10 then won over the same distance on August 21.

The Dubawi mare’s trackwork has been first class since her latest trial and Waterhouse wrote on her website that she is ready for a bold first showing this weekend.

“She is spot on for a big first up run on Saturday,” Waterhouse wrote.

Waterhouse also confirmed her thoughts on twitter that Arabian Gold was looking in top order for her return to the race track.

“Looks an absolute picture, all set for the Tramway SAT,” Waterhouse tweeted.

Blake Shinn takes the ride on Arabian Gold in the Tramway Stakes and was impressed with mare’s Thursday morning gallop when she ran home the final 200m in 12.9s at the end of her 1400m gallop.

‘Very happy’ is what Blake Shinn said after jumping off Arabian Gold this morning. The grey mare cruised over 1400m coming home her last 200m in 12.9 seconds,” Waterhouse wrote.

While under the care of Warwick Farm trainer David Vandyke, Arabian Gold as a three year old, was one of the stars of the 2014 Sydney Autumn Carnival and the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Arabian Gold hit the headlines with two wins at Randwick in the Group 3 $200,000 TAB Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) and in the Group 3 $150,000 Johnnie Walker Frank Packer Plate (2000m) before she travelled to Brisbane.

Vandyke was then able to score a first up win over Chris Waller’s top class mare Catkins in Group 3 $300,000 PJ’s Irish Pub Parramatta Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill at the beginning of the 2014 Spring Carnival.

But her form tapered away after that and she failed to fill a place at her next six starts, her most recent being a tenth in the Listed $100,000 Fujitsu Air Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on May 9 this year.

Arabian Gold has come in for some early support in the Tramway Stakes and has firmed slightly from $8 to $7.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au to be on the third line of betting behind Group 1 winning mare First Seal at $3.90 and the Team Hawkes trained Messene at $7.

Author: Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.